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I've been looking into uses for my fireplace ashes.
So far I think I have found out that if I save them and sprinkle lightly over lawn. Good:)
Blueberries. Bad:(
Compost only small amounts.:confused:
I'm going to save mine in a small metal garbage bag and look more into it.
If anyone has suggestions, please let me know.:D
Wood ash has a lot of uses. Here are just a few suggestions.Quote:
Originally Posted by Just Dahlia
- A fertilizer for the yard and garden. Wood ash contains 10-25% calcium, 1-4% magnesium, 5-15% potassium and 1-3% phosphorus. This makes it a good (0-2-10) fertilizer for the garden.
- The types of wood you burn does play a role in the amount of nutrients it contains. Hardwoods generally produce 3 times more ash that contains 5 times more nutrients than softwoods.
- Ash will temporarily change (increase) the pH of garden soil, so you should only use it sparingly and not at all if your soil pH is already over 7.0. Two pounds of wood ash equals about 1 pound of ground limestone.
- When used as a fertilizer, wood ash should be applied at least two months before high nitrogen fertilizers because it promotes the loss of nitrogen from ammonia-based fertilizers. Don't use wood ash on acidic-loving plants like rhododendron, blueberries (As you found out) or azaleas and don't add wood ash to the compost pile.
- Deodorizing. When your dog has been sprayed by a skunk, a little ash rubbed into its coat will help neutralize the smell.
- Control pond algae. One tablespoon per 1,000 gallons adds enough potassium to strengthen other aquatic plants that compete with algae, slowing its growth,
- Pump up tomatoes. For the calcium-loving plants, place 1/4 cup right in the hole when planting,
- Roses, use the tom recipe above.
- Wood ash can be rubbed over metal to polish it. It can also remove moisture rings from most wood surfaces.
- As a glass cleaner. Wood ash is a key ingredient in lye soap. It can be mixed with a bit of water (or dabbed on a damp sponge) and used to clean dirty fireplace doors.
- Make soap. Soaking ashes in water makes lye, which can be mixed with animal fat and then boiled to produce soap. Salt makes it harden as it cools.
- As an insect repellent. Sprinkle small amounts around the perimeter of your garden to deter slugs and snails.
- As a spot remover on wood furniture. Mix it in with a small amount of water until you create a paste. Rub over rings left by water glasses or hot beverages, and follow up with a furniture polish. Test on a small area first.
- Shine silver. A paste of ash and water makes a dandy nontoxic metal polisher.
- As traction. In the winter, sprinkle wood ash on slippery walkways or driveways to improve traction. Wipe you feet before going inside, because the ashes will easily track indoors.
- Hide stains on paving. Ash absorbs wet paint spatters on cement by sprinkling ash directly on the spot; it blends in with a scuff of your shoe or boot.
- You add it to any kind of glue and it makes it stick harder
Since your being frugal wood ash is last:
Make Your Own Fertilizer - Homemade Fertilizer Recipes
And remember not to burn trash, paper, or pressure treated wood in your fireplace or the toxins from those items will end up on you.
K :)
Quote::And remember not to burn trash, paper, or pressure treated wood in your fireplace or the toxins from those items will end up on you.::
I use news paper to start my fire and sometimes use a small starter log to get it going? Can I still use my ashes?
I love that I can use it for the roses, tomatoes and the pond... and insect repellent.:D
I never knew this and have always been tossing it.
I knew the Epsom salt was good, but never had a recipe. Thanks:D
I will add it to my household cleaner recipes that I use everyday. It's amazing the money you can save mixing a few things and they work as good or better. I haven't bought cleaners in a long time and saved myself hundreds.
I also use newspaper for cleaning mirrors and windows and I can't believe how clean the become.:D I think I should have been born in the 1900's.:rolleyes:
EDIT:: The agree/Disagree thing is freaking me out a little bit :)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Just Dahlia
Depends... How much you burnin', a weeks worth? eddie git outta' 'ere:oQuote:
Originally Posted by Just Dahlia
Even though the Newspaper Industry standard has been to moved to water solvent inks for newspapers. I can not verify the same standards for the Commercial Printing Industry, so... I've always advised not to burn any of the free standing advertisements that one would receive in their daily newspaper, bundle them, and recycle. You know, all that shiny stuff.
They are often printed on a denser, glossier paper, and require a more penetrating ink. The color comics printed simultaneously with your daily are an exception.
Newspaper Periodicals like USAToday could fall in to this category, again, They are often printed on a denser, glossier paper, and require a more penetrating ink.
Just be careful using wet ashes... That starts the lye process...Quote:
Originally Posted by Just Dahlia
... :rolleyes:... I think it is 1cp Vinegar to one of those spray bottles O' waterQuote:
Originally Posted by Just Dahlia
Are you still having trouble?Quote:
Originally Posted by Just Dahlia
What are you using to get on the Internet?
K
Quote::Are you still having trouble?
What are you using to get on the Internet?
No, I have no trouble, just fear change, and it changed.:eek:
I never use the shiny paper in the fire place and tell DH not to use it, hopefully he listens to me.:rolleyes:
I put a little of the ash in the compost bin:eek: tomorrow I will get some dry leaves to throw in and stir it all up and then throw something else on top. The only dry thing I have at this point is shredded paper (not glossy):)
It's still raining and we are expected to get another storm in 2 days.:mad: It's getting very icky to deal with, but I have my puppies:D
I just planted my seeds and now I am waiting.:) ::tap tap taping foot impatiently:::rolleyes:
I've scoped out all the areas that I can put my babies and I need to make some raised beds out of some old wood and some that I will buy on Saturday morning.
Looseleaf blend of Lettuce
Italian Parsley
Cilantro
Basil
Dill (some now some later) I can always use the seeds.
Summer Salsa tomato (Roma)
Super Beefsteak tomato
Hybrid Big Boy
I'm determined to have so many tomatoes that I won't know what to do with them (won't happen)
I just planted what is too high priced in the store that I always use. Hopefully it will work out. The greenhouse is in the kitchen right now, but my house is usually always around 65 degrees and I'm wondering if that is warm enough. I do have a hot pad to plug in or I could use a sock full of rice nuked at night.:confused: Maybe 65 is OK.
I still haven't pulled my old tomatoes out yet. The weather went from great to crap too quickly and my green waste is filled with Rose clippings now. I trimmed mine and some of my neighbors (they never do it) and then hid inside.:o So far no one has said anything:rolleyes: After Thursday (if it's not raining) I can get rid of the old tomato plants.
Hi JD,
eddie got a chuckle out of that :pQuote:
Originally Posted by Just Dahlia
During the day the kitchen should be fine (it's usually one of the warmer rooms of a house). At night though you'd do well to try and raise that 65 another 10°Quote:
Originally Posted by Just Dahlia
See :
Soil Temperature Conditions for
Vegetable Seed Germination
Even though your thermostat may say it's set at 65 it could be lower.
Do you have a small thermometer to place nearby the seed trays?
Take readings for a couple of days to see what the seedlings micro-climate is, and adjust accordingly.
If you have one of those indoor/outdoor type just lay the outdoor sensor on top of the soil... come back in ten minutes to check the reading.
We just had 4" of snow Wednesday, and are looking at 12 or better for Saturday.Quote:
Originally Posted by Just Dahlia
I hear a weekly succession of big snows for us until the first week of March :(
I can't read that:eek: Too small or I'm too old. I'll try to come up with a way to warm the area up a little at night.Quote:
Originally Posted by KUXJ
I'm sorry about the snow:( Your going to be stuck in for a while, hope you have plenty of wood:)
Hey! Watch that old stuff...
Not much I can do 'bout that, but... JD, if byyou mean the link I provided, it opens up in Adobe Reader does it not?Quote:
I can't read that :eek:
Well, up in the left center of the tool bar of the reader you'll see two circle's one has a minus - , and one has a plus + , click on the + until you get it to a percentage that is comfortable for you.
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_80cGISOzOds/S2...20toolbar1.jpg
There is also a drop-down box there, click on the down arrow, any percentage from 100 to 200 is good, then use the scroll bars to position the document to where you can read it.
This is a pretty universal display for magnification tools, sometimes you may see a little magnifying glass instead.
We'll be allright, when the DW gets home from work we're going out to grab a few things. We're still stocked up from the holidays.Quote:
I'm sorry about the snow Your going to be stuck in for a while, hope you have plenty of wood
I just might make some sugar cookies when we get back...
I have moved my seedlings into the bathroom (I have a heater in there and a door to close) I keep the heat in the house 60 at night and hardly turn on during the day (I hate to be hot) good thing I live in California:rolleyes:
In the bath I can turn the timer on for however long I want and then keep the door closed and it stays warm in there for a long time. DH promises not to mess with the babies:)
Once our storms are over, it will warm up here.
I forgot:D Save me some sugar cookies, I like a little icing on mine please:D
DH should be nominated for sainthood ;)Quote:
DH promises not to mess with the babies :)
I do sprinkles, and Pecans also :)Quote:
I forgot :D Save me some sugar cookies
I got all my old dead tomatoes in the 'green waste' bin.
I chopped off the top of all the bananas in the back yard.
Pulled a lot of weeds.
Made 3 different raised wood beds for planting.
Fixed my poor fake palm trees (from the wind)
Trimmed and threw away a bunch of jade
Put 4 cf of bark in the 'way' back yard
Made and canned some BBQ sauce:rolleyes:
And watched the Saints win:D
I spent 4hours blowin' snow... :(
Made carrot cake with sour cream icing... :)
And watched the Colts lose... :(
Well... Some of the game. I don't know, I
Just can't get into it like I use to.
AND, there's 6to12 coming Tuesday night... :(
Pictures of snow! I need pictures of snow:D
I love snow, especially when I am not there:rolleyes:
Alty had some great ones in 'pictures out your front door' thread.:)
I'm sorry your Colts lost, I'm not a big football fan. I actually could care less who wins as long as they don't show any of the losers. I feel so sorry for them I cry. The only sports that I actually paid attention to was hockey (only because my son plays) but I don't care about any team except for the one my son is on.:rolleyes:
I leveled out one of my raised beds today and emptied out some soil from other things. We are getting rain on Tuesday, so I will have to wait till Wednesday to do more.
I moved the seedling into the kitchen because I took a light from my turtle (she got a new one)
I'm keeping ever thing close enough to keep warm, but not burn and I put a cloth over the top, so there is not too much light.
The dome is propped at this point because some of the seedlings have emerged and some (lettuce) look a little leggy, but true leaves haven't appeared yet.
I won't pretend to know what I'm doing, because I always start seeds outside, so if any one wants to tell me what not to do, go for it.:rolleyes::)
I put in another bed for the strawberries this afternoon and I might be able to put the strawberries in there tomorrow.
I bought a bunch of bulbs 75% off yesterday and they are in the fridge doing there chilling hours. I'll plant next week. But I'm going back tomorrow to buy more:rolleyes: I love flowers:D
My seedlings seem to be getting leggy... OK they are leggy:rolleyes:
When they were in the bath, they had pretty much no light, but warmth.
Moved them to the kitchen and propped the top a little. They are underneath a warm light, but I have a towel on the top. (so no light) have to wet the towel everyday, so the house doesn't burn down.
I am not supposed to take the top off until all have sprouted. (according to directions) Should I give them the light:eek: They seem to be wanting to reach for the light that they can't see, but know is there.:D
Should I pinch some back:confused:
I'm thinking in about 3 days all will be sprouted and I can take the top off, should I wait and see what happens?
HELP! I've never done this inside before.
OK, I understand I am talking to myself now:rolleyes: but...
I moved my Key lime to a better location this afternoon and organized my potting bench. Saturday I believe I will put my Kumquat in the ground, I'm feeling sorry for it, even though it has been really good to me for the past 4 years.
I have a 10 year old slave coming by on Sat. afternoon, so I might get a lot done. I should start a list for her:)
I couldn't hear you... My snowblower was running :)
Your instincts are correct, the seedlings are “stretching” for the light.Quote:
Originally Posted by Just Dahlia
Are your lights strong, and close (within inches) .
Are you keeping them on for a minimum of 14 hrs a day? Insufficient light is the only reason for leggy seedlings.
Only if they are flower seedlings. Vegetable seedlings will be harmed by pinching.Quote:
Originally Posted by Just Dahlia
Never touch a seedling's stem when transplanting, leaves can handle some crushing, but if you crush the stems vascular system it will perish.
Yes wait, and light! light! light! add more light! 24Hours a day if you can.Quote:
Originally Posted by Just Dahlia
Your instincts are correct, the seedlings are “stretching” for the light.
Are your lights strong, and close (within inches) .
Are you keeping them on for a minimum of 14 hrs a day? Insufficient light is the only reason for leggy seedlings.
My light is with 5 inches, but I have kept the towel over the top. Should I take the towel off?
Or should I wait until all have sprouted? It is just a Halogen light for warmth. It's not really sun light
Or does that not matter?
I got the pictures of the beautiful snow, but haven't had a chance to look at them all closely. (I did like the one of you starting down the porch (sidewalk) Like an Eskimo:D
My G-D Daughter is spending the weekend. I'm using her as a slave:) We have already got rid of the mushroom on the rug and will start on our list at 7 am.
Why? To protect them from the heat of the halogens?Quote:
Originally Posted by Just Dahlia
Yes, take the towel off, and get rid of those halogens.Quote:
Originally Posted by Just Dahlia
Yes, it matters. I'm sorry I wasn't more clear earlier.Quote:
Originally Posted by Just Dahlia
What your trying to do is replicate the Sun's spectrum, indoors. The warmth is initially needed to germinate the seeds. After they germinate, and start their true leaves, the temperature can be lower.
This is a good read, especially the section on lighting:
Starting Seeds Indoors: Part 3
Don't use regular incandescent bulbs ("grow bulbs") or halogens to start or grow any plants, this type of light generates huge inter-node spacing, poor vegetative growth, skimpy yields, and could set your house on fire due to the dangerous amounts of heat these lights produce, and is the reason your plants are "leggy".
Spend your money wisely, invest in Fluorescent lighting (good), or High Intensity Discharge lamps (HID-- recommended). HID lighting such as Metal Halide (MH) or High-Pressure Sodium (HPS) supply the high-intensity light that plants need for good growth.
Halogen lighting is a poor choice for plant cultivation because they don't have good spectral output for plant growth.
This is a little technical:
A good way to measure plant growth efficiency of different types of lighting is PAReff. PAR stands for Photosynthetic Active Radiation: the wavelength range of light between 400 and 700 nm that can be absorbed by leafs for plant photosynthesis. PAReff is the PAR/Watt efficiency ratio over a certain area.
Some examples, they don't have to be Phillips just try to match the values:
Philips Advantage Fluorescent, 5000K: 1.44 PAReff
Philips High Pressure Sodium deluxe: 1.38 PAReff
Philips Dense-Line Emitter Metal Halide, 4100K: 1.38 PAReff
People usually choose halogen for the "low start-up" costs of a halogen light.
The real cost of halogens result from its low efficiency.
500 Watt halogen lighting produces about 0.08 Watt/s/nm in the green-yellow spectral region which is about the same as 80 watts of cfl's.
A 500w halogen grow will cost approx $63 for electricity, whereas a more efficient light source generates the same par value for around $10 (depending on your local prices).
Glad you received the pix's.Quote:
Originally Posted by Just Dahlia
Don't you two work too hard, make sure you both take the time to smell the Dahlia's :)
It hasn't been a really good day and now I feel I have messed up my seedlings, when all I was trying to do was save money.:(
I took the lid off and turned off the 'death' light.
:(:(:(
Thanks for the link:)
Stay strong, you wouldn't want to transfer your sadness to your seedlings.
Keep the seedlings going, you can still plant "leggies", and start new ones. They will understand as long as you don't despair :)
You workin' tomorrow or are you off for president's day, and have your helper for one more day?
I have no one:( It's a sad day and I'm going to work on MondayQuote:
Originally Posted by KUXJ
:(
Thank you so much:) I'm really sad, I need to 'buck up' with my plants.
I can 'DO IT':D
Borrowed from:
Leggy seedlings aren t necessarily a lost cause
Some plants, particularly those with "hairy" stems, such as tomatoes, can be buried deeper in the soil to approximate their normal height. They then develop roots along the buried stem. In fact, this is something worth trying with any seedling because depending on the age, even some non-hairy-stemmed plants will continue to grow when buried deeper. If you try this technique, be aware that the root zone is now lower and you may want to water from the bottom to reach it without soaking the buried stem area as you would watering from the top.
Check this out, he's even starting Dahlia's:
My First Starter attempt...
That guys stuff grew pretty fast:)
I still have time and seeds and extra pods, maybe I will start new and move everything into the garage and lower my fluorescent light.
This is my plan now..
I will pick up a warm white and cool white bulbs.
Start fresh with the seeds
Move evrything to the garage
Put a heating pad underneath at 70' while germinating with the dome on.
Hang the light 3-4 inches above and raise as they grow.
Take off the dome when they sprout and turn off heating pad. Because the lights should be enough heat, even though they are in the garage right?
Only leave the lights on for 14-16 hours a day.
Am I forgetting anything?:)
Make sure they are 40watt.Quote:
Originally Posted by Just Dahlia
Start at 2inches above.Quote:
Originally Posted by Just Dahlia
Only if the temp drops to 45°F or below, then add supplemental heating.Quote:
Originally Posted by Just Dahlia
16hours.Quote:
Originally Posted by Just Dahlia
I am going to change to 2":)
I already set up everything this afternoon.
:)Yes, 40 watts
And I put a tin foil tent on top.
Timer set to go on at 4 pm off at 6 am;):confused: I need to re-check your notes:)
Also my heating pad doesn't have temps.. just low medium and high. Right now I have it on high, but it is covered and I put a towel over that. I feel the warmth with my hand, but not anywhere close to hot.
It was 68 today outside, not in the garage:D
Done!:d
I edited my post, but nothing happened:confused: I changed the time to 6 am:rolleyes:
Distance, and wattage... good.Quote:
Originally Posted by Just Dahlia
And The foil tent is for increased light reflection?
What you are trying to accomplish is the Sun's natural rhythm from late Spring to Late summer.Quote:
Originally Posted by Just Dahlia
In that time frame the Sun rises in the fifth hour (5am), and sets in the 20th (8pm).
Set your timer to on at 5am, and off at 9pm, that will give you your 16hours.
You need to know what the temperature is, you just can not gauge it with your hand.Quote:
Originally Posted by Just Dahlia
A few degrees up or down can make all the difference.
And you really should use an outdoor thermometer to check what the ambient temperatures are in your garage.
What I like to use is one of those indoor/outdoor digital thermometers with memory, the ones I use have a 6foot or better wire lead for the outdoor sensor.
Lay the outdoor sensor between the center, and the edge of the seedling tray, and stretch the display case away from the trays.
That way any time you check on the seedlings you can tell what the previous min/max temps have been.
You'll have to set up your own schedule for when to check an clear.
$10bucks at better drug stores nationwide.
http://www1.dealextreme.com/producti...42_1_small.jpg
:eek:
Changing the times! Thanks;)
Brains not working enough to think about the thermometer at this point... needs fuel... :)
The foil according to the sites you gave me 'might give it a 20' warmer reading. I took the fridge thermometer out of the fridge and shoved it against the towel (can't afford a real one right now) I'll check the temp in the morning.
The ambient temp in the garage is cold, according to my toes.:rolleyes:
I turned the heat pad to medium:)
Okay, I just wanted to be clear why you were doing it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Just Dahlia
I have been known to set foil under my pots so the light can bounce up to the underside of the seedlings.
Sometimes it helps, others, I can't tell the difference.
Keep the lighting close (2") until the seedlings grow their third set of true leaves, and you begin to thin-out.
Then you can raise the lighting only another inch to 3"...
Check them within 4 to 8hours.
If you see any signs of bolting/legginess/falling over, go back to the 2" distance.
Medium heat should be okay for now, but you still have to know for sure what temps your running.Quote:
Originally Posted by Just Dahlia
With this discussion 'bout temps, and lighting, don't forget to make sure the soil medium remains damp/moist, but not wet.
And no fertilizer until you plant them into your garden.
If you could get hold of some good mountain spring water, and I don't mean the store bought kind, actually know of a mountain spring where you could draw 50gallons for yourself.
You could use that in place of the city water your probably using now.
It would be free of all processing chemicals, and have organic nutrients, and minerals that would be beneficial.
Can you smell chlorine when you draw a glass of tap water? If so, you could let a gallon, uncapped, sit in the garage for a day to let the chlorine dissipate.
I moved them back in to the house, got worried. I will try to get a thermometer on my way home today.:)
I couldn't find the type with the cord attachment, they were all remote and that thing wouldn't fit under. I bought a fish tank thermometer and stuck it on the side and put a older little basic one on the other side.:rolleyes:
They are both reading about 77.
Some of the things you are telling me are not quite the same as what I read, so now I need to know if I'm supposed to have the dome on at this point? It's clear plastic and according to the sites, I leave it on until true leaves appear. But they also said at that point to raise the light 5-6 inches.:eek:
So, in your opinion (because our food and Eddy's for the summer is depending on you;)) lid on or off?
We are having some good weather right now:)
I planted my onions outdoors in my new raised beds and re-did my watering system today, getting ready for when other things will be planted.
I added... beets, cherry tomatoes and a mix of bell peppers to the drama:cool:
I hope your having a wonderful time with a good book and Hot Toddy by the fire. I miss my Chicago winters, living here you feel like you need to be doing something all the time. It gets tiring.:(
Good, maintain the setting you are using with the heat pad. Medium? was the last I remember you saying.Quote:
Originally Posted by Just Dahlia
That temperature although good for the herbs, and onions, it is a little low for the vegetables, but don't fret. All that means is the vegetable seedlings will take a little bit longer to mature into viable plants.
Leave it on. It will help in maintaining warmth, and humidity.Quote:
Originally Posted by Just Dahlia
The light distance rule is arbitrary. It depends on what amount of ambient (Natural) light there is in the surrounding area.
Basements, and garages can be darker than kitchens or porches.
With my system I follow what I stated...
2inches of separation, until the third set. By then the seedlings should/will be taller than the dome, then 3inches of separation until the seedlings are 6inches tall.
Then I move the light to 5 to 6inches of separation.
Our weather's not too bad, this week we'll still be 3°F below normal this week (41°F - 5°C) with highs only 38°F - 3°CQuote:
Originally Posted by Just Dahlia
Are those onion seeds or sets? In any event you would do well to mulch them especially if your night time temps fall below 50°F - 10°C
You need to schedule in some quiet time... Woman does not live by gardening alone....Quote:
Originally Posted by Just Dahlia
Are those onion seeds or sets? In any event you would do well to mulch them especially if your night time temps fall below 50°F - 10°C
They are sets, the package said after danger of frost:eek: I'll mulch when I get home today. Thanks:)
I wrote that after I checked the NWS for seasonal averages for your area...
It shows your night time temps should hover around 45°F - 7°C for this time of year.
So... You should be okay, but still, anything below 50°F is still :eek: chilly for :eek: animal, :eek: vegetable :eek: or mineral. :eek:
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